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OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Jazz are making sweet music at home this year.
In four home contests this season, the Jazz have four wins. And they’ve been getting better with each game. Energy Solutions Arena is, once again, becoming one of the toughest road destinations for opposing teams.
On the road, plug your ears.
The Jazz have been awful on the road this season losing all three contests by an average of 19 points per game. While the Jazz have struggled on the road, they’ve done it against teams that were in the playoffs a season ago mounting losses to the Lakers, Nuggets, and Spurs.
The Jazz (4-3), winners of three straight, are in Oakland to face the Golden State Warriors (2-5) tonight and are looking for their fourth consecutive win and for their first road win of the season.
The Jazz played arguably their best game of the season in a 94-85 home victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Al Jefferson led the way with 20 points and nine boards. The bench was solid, outscoring the Memphis bench 41-11. But, the defense was downright nasty. The Jazz forced 10 steals and swatted 10 shots for a total of 20 Grizzly turnovers. The Jazz also held the Grizzlies to 33 percent shooting and to 38 second half points.
Jazz forward Paul Millsap said that these early home victories have been good for the team.
“That’s a great sign,” he told Salt Lake Tribune reporter Brian T. Smith after Friday night’s game. “It’s good that we’ve got a lot of home games early so that we can make a name for ourself, get a little chemistry, get the fans behind us. So we have to go on the road and do the same thing.”
Golden State enters tonight’s game on the heels of a four game losing streak. The Warriors have struggled without star guard Stephen Curry who is out with a sprained ankle and are looking to win for the first time since opening the season with a 2-1 record.
The Warriors are also coming off a loss to the Lakers last night falling victim to a 39-point night by Kobe Bryant.
“A lot of the shots they were hitting in the fourth quarter were Kobe Bryant fadeaways from 17 feet. That’s a tough shot to defend,” said Warriors forward David Lee. “He had a very good game tonight, but he’s the only guy who killed us statistically. It’s tough when he has a night like that.”
Guard Monta Ellis leads the Warriors in scoring at 22 ppg this season, but has struggled against the Jazz at Oracle Arena only averaging 11 points per contest.
For a Jazz victory tonight, they’ll have to take all the energy, intensity, untapped potential, and everything else necessary with them to Oakland to pull out a victory against a Golden State team that has been known to score points in bunches.
“Everything is going in the right direction,” said Jazz guard Earl Watson. “I feel like we’re just scratching the surface. The positive energy on this team is amazing.”
Tonight’s game is at 8:30 and can be seen on Root Sports.
You can follow Jarrod Hiatt on Twitter at @jarrodhiatt.
